William w



(No Model.)

W. W. SHAILER. FLANGE FOR PIANOS No. 473,242. Patented Apr. 19, 1892.

. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM IV. SIIAILER, OF IVORYTON, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE COMSTOCK, CHENEY & COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

FLANGE FOR PIANOS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 473,242, dated April 19, 1892.

Application filed June 15,1891- Serial No. 396,282- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM W. SHAILER, of Ivoryton, in the county of Middlesex and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvement in Flanges for Piano-Actions; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with accompan yin g drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this speciflcation,and represent, in

Figure 1, a transverse section of the rail of a piano-action, showing the three flanges attached thereto; Fig. 2, a front view of a portion of the rail, showing the hammer-flange .attached thereto; Fig. 3, a perspective view of one of the flanges detached.

This invention relates to an improvement in the construction of flanges which are secured to the supporting-rail of a piauo-action and which form a hinge-like joint between the rail and the moving parts hung thereto, such as the hammer, damper, and the jack-lever, and particularly to that class of flanges which are made from metal, having a body by which they are secured to the rail, with a pair of cars projecting from the body and between which ears the swinging parts are arranged, with a pivot through the ears and the joint portion of the said parts, and so that the parts so hung in the flanges may swing in a plane at right angles to the rail, the invention being adapted more especially to this class of flanges which are made from metal.

In flanges of this character the width between the cars has usually been made the same or substantially the same as the width of the part to be hinged between the said ears, producing that surface on the ears, against which the corresponding sides of the parts hinged thereto will work, creating friction, which frequently causes the parts to stick.

The object of my invention is to overcome these difliculties; and the invention consists in the construction of the flanges as hereinafter described, and particularly recited in the claim.

A represents the body of the flange, upon the back of which is a groove 13, corresponding to the ribs C on the rail D, to which the flange is to be attached, and which locates the flange upon the rail. Through the body of the flange is a hole E, and so that a screw F, introduced through the said hole into the flange, will secure the flange to the rail. From the body two ears G II project and between which the swinging parts are hung, the ears being distant from each other sufiicient for the introduction of the joint portions of the parts between the said ears, as usual in this class of flanges. Through each ear is a hole I for the pivot. This hole is made so much larger than the pivot to be employed as to permit the introduction of a bushing of felt or similar non-metallic material; but instead of making the holes I in circular form, as in the usual construction, I construct them of non-circular form, as seen in Fig. 4, where the hole is shown of poly onal shape, with the bushing J therein and the pivot-pin K in the bushing. The polygonal or non-circular shape of the holes in the ears gives to the bushings a corresponding shape as the material which forms the bushing is drawn into the holes, and the bushings conforming to the shape of the holes in the ears are thereby prevented from rotating under the action of the swinging parts. Consequently the displacement of the bushings in use is positively prevented.

Upon the inside of the two ears a boss L is formed, presenting a rounded or convex surface, as seen in Figs. 2 and 3, and which form the side bearings for the parts hung upon the pivot and because of their convex shape; but a small contact is made between the ears and the part hung upon the pivot. Consequently the friction is very slight, and the liability to stick is thereby avoided.

I claim- A metal flange for piano-actions, consisting of a body A, having two cars G 11 project-ing therefrom, the ears constructed with pivotholes and also constructed with a boss upon their insides around the pivot-holes, the said bosses presenting substantially a convex face, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM W. SHAILER,

\Vitnesses:

FREDERIG C. EARLE, LILLIAN D. KELSEY. 

